Stringed musical instrument



Jan. 21, 1958 c. H. MARX 2,820,389

STRINGED MUSICAL. INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 3, 1955 Char/es H. Marx INVENTOR.

Jan. 21, 1958 c. H. MARX ,8 8

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fig 3 Charles H; Marx IN VEN TOR.

Fig. 4

United Patent 2,820,389 STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CharlesH. Marx, New Troy, Mich. Application August 3, 1955, Serial No. 526,109 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-285) The present invention relates to a stringed musical instrument which is singular in construction and performance, and is characterized, generally speaking, by an appropriately constructed body provided on its top or playing surface with several banks of vibratory strings associated in a unique manner and serving to provide an instrument of an unusual and original type.

Briefly, the instrument herein revealed is characterized by an appropriate case having a body of general rectangular form and which is appropriately designed so that the instrument in use may be supported on a relatively stationary stand, table or other equivalent support surface. The hinged cover of the case is swung open into an out-of-theway'position to expose on the top or playing surface several complemental lengthwise banks of strings. To this end, there is a first lengthwise bank of properly tuned and accompaniment chord strings, all of the same length and supported on bridges adjacent the opposite ends of the body and suitably anchored, the strings of this set or bank being adapted to be plucked either with the fingers or, alternatively, with a pick or an equivalent plectrum. Manually adjustable means is cooperable with the chord strings and the body top for changing the key of the strings at will. More particularly, this means is an adjustable fret functioning in a manner similar to a capo tasto used for the most part on guitars. There is also a second bank of melody strings supported lengthwise atop said body in a plane above the plane of said chord strings, said melody strings being each of a predetermined pitch length and the length of each string being different from that of the next string in proper progression and sequence, all of the melody strings being coplanar and tuned to the requirements of a diatonic scale and adapted to be set into vibration with a suitable mallet or, if preferred, by a violin bow in a well known manner; and a third bank of half-tone melody strings isolated from and situated in the area between the first and second banks of strings, correspondingly mounted on said body, coplanar with each other, each of required vibratory and pitch length and occupying a plane higher than that of the diatonic melody strings of said second bank of strings and likewise set into vibration by said mallet or bow; whereby the regular tones are singly produced by way of the strings of the second bank, the complemental chromatic and occasional tones singly produced by the strings of the third bank, and the requisite complemental accompaniment chords are strumrned by way of the strings of the first bank.

'In carrying out the principles of the invention, a hollow cover is provided, and this embodies a fiat panel and lateral marginal flanges which cooperate therewith in providing a complemental rim. Links are hingedly connected with one flange of the rim, and an adjacent and corresponding longitudinal side of the body. These links are sufficient or ample in size that they function to allow the cover to be swung from its normal closed or string covering position through an arcuate path. This makes it possible to'turn the cover inside out so that the panel Patented Jan. 21, V

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2 thereof is then opposed to and spaced from the bottom of thebody. "This "makes it possibleto utilize thepanel as a sounding boardand to prop the panel open and to employ the space between'thebody and panel as atone amplifying chamber.

The invention is 'also featured by the incorporation therein of a dummy keyboard. This will be marked, printed,painted or otherwise constructed so that itwill resemble either the keyboard of an organ or a piano. It is interposed between the top and the overlying melody strings of the second and third banks of strings. By being visually marked and charted with a prescribed. guidance mediaa'nd by properly anchoring the cooperating adjacent ends of all of the melody strings in relation to the'prescribed media, or portions thereof, one needs only to take a glance at the dummy keyboard and the various strings of the melody groups or banks to'soon learn'and eventually memorize the letter'names of the strings as A, B, C, C-sharp, etc.

The aforementioned dummy keyboard is preferably an inclined elongated block of appropriate length which not only serves to bear the charted media for guidance purposes but also provides a place for anchoring the melody strings and determining'the different planes on which the melody strings of the respective banks are properly lo cated, this togive clearance'when a bow is used.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1-is a top'plan view of the improved stringed musical instrument constructed in accordance with the invention under consideration with the cover swung back and beneath to expose the structural details on the top of the body or base;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view illustrating certain details and taken on the plane of the line 2 -2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a'cross-sectionshowing how the folded or inside out cover is placed in an out-of-the-way position and also to function as the aforementioned sound enhancing means;

Figure 4 is a detail view-in elevation on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exaggerted section on the line Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a'perspective view, with portions in section, of the adjustable pitch changing fret; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the case closed'and ready for carrying or transportation.

Referring now to the drawings with the aid of reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the body of'the instrument is denoted by the numeral 10, while the cornplemental cover-is denoted by the numeral 12. Obviously, the cover is made to fit the body. It includes a panel 14 and marginal flanges defining a rim 16. Appropriate fasteners 18 (Figure 7) are provided. A inulti-purpose open rectangular link is also provided, as at 20, and has one marginal edge portion hinged on the marginal edge 22 of the body, as at 24. One longitudinal edge portion of this frame or link is laterally offset, as at 26, to serve a purpose to be described. With reference to Fig'ures 3 and 4, there are additional frame-like links provided, and these are denoted by the numerals 28. They are sufficiently long to bridge the space between the body 10 and cover when the cover is swung back to the inside-out or out-of-the-way position shown in Figure 3. These links are properly paired and spaced apart, and are hingedly connected at 30'to a marginal edge opposite to the marginalcdge 22, and they are also hingedly connected,

as at 32, to the rim of the cover. It was thought advisable to cover this case generally before referring to the details which are most important.

Taking up now Figures 1, 2 and 3 in a t l will be noted that the p r lcu at It the numeral 38, and it comprises an appropriate number of coplanar strings 4Q 1n parallelism, and these are tuned to provide chord strings. They are suitably strummed There is a clamping variable or adjustable bridge.

Reference is made now to the second bank of strings 76. These strings 76 are tuned to provide a diatonic scale. The strings themselves are denoted by the nuagain, these are half-tone strings and are anthe same tuning pegs 80 and pass from right to left over the bridge 42 where they, at their opposite ends, are anchored on similar bridge pins 90. The pins 82 and 90 are, in turn, anchored in an inclined block which extends lengthwise and is interposed between the strings 78 and 33, as perhaps best shown in Figure 3. This block is denoted by the numeral 92, and it slants outwardly, edge. purpose is to place the pin 90 at the requisite plane above the pins 82 and to provide clearance for the violin bow which is third bank represent half-tones, and with the construction seen, the half-tones have the same tone quality as the tones of the diatonic scale. This is accomplished by the slanted surface of the block or dummy keyboard 92.

It will be clear that the aforementioned cover serves two purposes. When closed, it serves as a carrying case for the instrument and protects and hides the strings and the face of the instruments. When it is swung open and turned inside-out, it occupies the position shown in Figure 3 with the hinge links 28 permitting this accomplishment. The handle-forming link 20 is then swung and serves as a sort of a prop and defines a tone chamber or space 98, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, this handle tends to enhance the volume and tone, and vibrations are transmitted through the respective links to the panel 14, whereby the latter becomes a sound board.

In practice, the instrument is played on a table top or stationary support stand. The cover is turned under the instrument or to one side thereof, and the handle supporting the instrument at the proper and most convenient angle so that the bow is held in a nearly level position (not shown). This allows the bow to go from the diatonic scale to the half-tone with only a minor change in position. In addition to the bow, the instrument may also be played in the same position with a mallet or mallets. The chords are picked according to the music scored for this instrument.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stringed musical instrument comprising a portable body designed to be supported on a relatively stationary stand, table or the like, a first lengthwise bank of proper-.. ly tuned accompaniment chord strings all of the same. length and bridge-supported and regularly anchored atop said body, manually adjustable means cooperable with said chord strings and body top for changing the key of said strings at will; a second bank of melody strings. Y likewise supported atop said body in a plane above the plane of said chord strings, said melody strings being each of a predetermined pitch length and the length of each string being different from that of the next string in properprogression and sequence, all of the melody strings being coplanar and tuned to the requirements of a diatonic scale and adapted tory and pitch length and occupying a plane higher than.

that of the diatonic melody strings of said second bank of strings and likewise set into vibration; whereby the regular tones are singly produced by way of the strings of the second bank, the complemental chromatic and occasional tones are singly produced by the strings of the third bank, and the requisite complemental accompaniment chords are strummed by way of the strings of to be set into vibration with a suitable. mallet or, if preferred, by a violin bow in a well known half-tone melody strings iso-.

the first bank, and the combination of a hollow cover including a panel and lateral marginal flanges providing a complemental rim, links hingedly connected with one flange of said rim and an adjacent and corresponding longitudinal side of said body, said links being ample in size to allow said cover to be swung from its normal string covering position through an arcuate path so that it is turned inside-out with said panel then opposed to and spaced from the bottom of said body, whereby said panel then functions as a sounding board and the space between serves as a tone amplifying chamber.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and the combination therewith of an additional link larger than said first named links and having a portion hingedly attached to the other longitudinal side of said body, the opposed portion of said larger link having a lateral bend toed in at the requisite angle and contactable with said panel to maintain the stated space between the latter and body and to transmit vibrations from the latter to said panel, whereby the tonal quality of the over-all instrument is responsive and appreciably enhanced.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 and in combination, a manually shiftable and regulable block interposed between the top of said body and the first lengthwise bank of accompaniment chord strings and slidable above and along said top relative to said last named strings, a clamp mounted adjustably atop said block and overlying said strings and serving to clamp said block on the strings at the desired operative place, the top of said block having a groove therein at right angles to said strings, a raisable and lowerable fret mounted for operation in said groove and having camming and operating contact with the underneath surfaces of said chord strings, said block being wholly supported by said chord strings by way of said clamp, and an operating lever fixed to said fret for tensioning and raising the cooperating portions of said chord strings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

